Multicompartment refrigerating apparatus



J. W. JACOBS March 16, 1954 MULTICOMPARTMENT REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 24, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 16, 1954 J. w, JACOBS 2,672,022

MULTICOMPARTMENT REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 24, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 60 BY 2 INVENTOR.

March 16, 1954 J. w. JACOBS MULTICOMPARTMENT REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 24, 1951 Patented Mar. 16, 1954 MULTIGOMPARTMENT REFRIGERATING APPARATUS James W. Jacobs, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Appli ation Octo e .2 1951, ial No. 252,901

6 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to refrigerators provided with cooling units in which the refrigerated outer exposed surfaces of the freezing container defrost during the 'idle period of the refrigerating system while the interior of the container remains at sub-freezing temperatures.

For a low cost refrigerator it is desirable that there be only a single unit for cooling the food compartment and also for freezing ice and preserving frozen foods. In the past such units have continuously accumulated frost'on the exposed surface since it was necessary that the unit be operated continuously below 32 F. to

freeze and preserve ice and frozen foods.

It is an object of my invention to provide a refrigerator with a box-shaped cooling unit having outer surfaces exposed to the "atmosphere in the food compartment which outer surfaces are of sufficiently low mass to defrost during the idle period of the refrigerating system while the interior of the unit has sufficient mass and is sufficiently isolated that it remains at temperatures below freezing at all times.

It is another object of my invention to provide a refrigerator with a box-shaped cooling unitinwhich the outer walls are formed largely of metal, the greater portion of which are refrigerated for cooling the atmosphere in the food compartment while a refrigerated plate construction thermally isolated from the outer walls is provided within the cooking unit for freezing and preserving ice and frozen foods without being greatly affected by the temperatures of 'theouter walls.

'These objects are obtained by providing a boxshaped container having the greater portion of its outersurface composed of metal walls provided by refrigerant passages. Within the cor.-

tainer there is provided a refrigerated plate havof the container so that the outer walls will defrost toward the end of the idle periods of. the refrigerating system while the interior always remains at temperatures below freezing.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following 1 description, reference being had to the acco ne panying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line vI-| of Fig. 3 of a refrigerator embodying one form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic developed view of the cooling unit showing the arrangement of refrigerant passages;

Fig. 3 is the sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 1s a diagrammatic development view of the cooling unit shown Figs. 5 and 6 illustrating the arrangement of refrigerant passages therein;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 6 showing another form of a cooling unit embodying my invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 5-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1-1 of Fig. 8 showing another form of my invention; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an insulated refrigerator cabinet 36 including a food compartment 32 which is normally closed by an insulated cabinet door 34. Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1 there is shown a sealed motor compressor unit 26 for compressing the refrigerant and forwarding the compressed refrigerant to a condenser 22 where th refrigerant is liquefied and forwarded through a capillary restrictor tube '24 to the refrigerated plate 26 located within the box-shaped freezing container28.

The freezing container 28 is composed of a continuously extending U-shaped metal wall portion 36 forming the sides and the bottom of the freezing container together with the back metal wall 38 and a top metal wall 46. The side .U- shaped wall portions 36 extend upwardly and are provided at the top with flanges 42 and 44 fastened to the top wall of the liner 46 which encloses the food compartment 32. The enclosure of the freezing container 28 is completed by an insulated freezer door 41 which is hinged at the bottom and provided with a gasket seal so that the freezing container is completely sealed from the atmosphere in the food compartment 32 whenever the door t! is in the closed position. The/hinges on the door 41 are preferably provided with springs so that the door 41 is normally maintained in the closed position. This insures that the interior of the freezing container will be kept isolated from the atmosphere except when something is being placed in or removed from the freezing container. By this arrangement, the collection of frost upon the interior surfaces of the freezing container 28 will be minimized.

To cool the food compartment 32, the side and bottom wall portions 36 of the freezing container 28 are provided with refrigerant passages.

The refrigerated plate 26 is likewise provided with refrigerant passages 48 of which the inlet end is connected to the capillary restrictor supply tube 24 while the outlet end is connected by the tubing 56 to the refrigerant passages 62 formed in the right side portion of the U-shaped outer walls 36 of the freezing container 28. The first portion of these passages 52 includes a liquid trap portion 54 which prevents liquid refrigerant from returning to the refrigerated plate 26 and subsequent passages which finally connect with the refrigerant passages 56 in the bottom wall portion of the U-shaped wall portion 36. These refrigerant passages 56 in the bottom wall portion connect with the vertical extending passages 58 in the left side portion of the U-shaped wall portion 36. The uppermost of these passages 58 connect directly with the suction conduit 60 which in turn connects to the suction inlet of the sealed motor compressor unit.

The refrigerated plate 26 has the edges spaced away from the sides and back Walls of the freezing container 28 as well as from the door 4? at the front of the container. It is further isolated from the outer walls of the freezing container 68 by being supported by the insulating member 62 which rests upon the bottom wall portion of the U-shaped outer wall portion 36 of the freezing container 28. This refrigerated plate 26 is adapted to support a generous quantity of frozen foods such as the frozen food packages 64 as well as ice trays 66 which may be used for freezing ice and comestibles.

The sealed motor compressor unit 20 is supplied with electric energy through the supply conductors 68 under the control of the thermostatic switch 10 connected by a capillary tube 12 to the bulb portion 14 provided at a midportion on the left side of the U-shaped portion 33 of the freezing container 28. The thermostat switch I is adjusted so that it will not close until it has reached temperatures, for example, of 34 or 36 F. It however will open at a much lower temperature such as, for example, 16 F. This arrangement will insure that before the motor compressor unit 20 starts the refrigerated outer walls of the freezing container 26 must reach a temperature above freezing so that all frost thereon will melt.

The melted frost is collected in the tray I6 which is preferably made of a suitable thermo plastic thermal insulating material and provided with a drain spout 18 which discharges the frost water onto the side wall of the food compartment liner 46. This frost water is then drained from the bottom of the liner through the drain 86 into a cooling vessel 62 in the machine compartment 84 where the atmosphere, is sufficiently warm and has sufiicient circulation to evaporate the water from the pan 82.

Referring now to the Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, there is shown a modification in which the refrigerant liquefying apparatus and the switch mechanism are omitted since they are like that shown in Figs.

1 to 3. Only the upper portion of the refrigerator cabinet I30 is shown as well as the upper portion of the cabinet door I34. This form differs from Figs. 1 to 3 in that there is provided a U-shaped continuous wall portion I36 which extends continuously, forming the side walls I3? and I39 as well as the back wall I36 of the freez ing container I28. Sealed to the upper edges of this U-shaped wall portion I36 there is provided a top wall I40 which slopes from its center portion downwardly to the side portions so that melting frost will readily drain from it. The freezing container I28 is supported from the top wall of the food compartment liner M6 by the hangers I42 and I44.

The bottom of the freezing container IE8 is enclosed and sealed by a member 62 of insulating material which has its upper portion fitting into and sealing against the lower edges of the U-shaped wall portion I36. The outer edges of this member I62 are provided with a trough Ill located beneath the lower edges of the wall portions I36 of the freezing container so that it will collect the frost water from the wall of the freezing container when the walls are defrosting. The trough I'I'I discharges into a spout I i6, which discharges the frost water onto the wall of the food compartment liner I46 and disposes of it in the same manner as described for Figs. 1 to 3. Within the freezing container I26 there is supported upon the member I62 an extensive flat refrigerated plate I26 provided with refrigerant passages I48. This refrigerated plate i26 is spaced from the outer walls of the freezing con tainer I23 and is adapted to support frozen food packages and the ice trays I66 in the same manner as Figs. 1 to 3.

Liquid refrigerant from the condenser is forwarded through the capillary restrictor tube I24 to the inlet end of the refrigerant passages I48 of the refrigerated plate I26 for supplying the refrigeration to the refrigerated plate and to the frozen food packages and the ice trays I66. The refrigerated plate I26 as well as the member I62 and the frozen food packages as well as the ice trays I66 constitute a relatively large mass hav ing a high hold-over capacity which is cooled to a low temperature by receiving the refrigerant first from the capillary tube I24. This relatively high mass enables it to retain the relatively low temperature for considerable periods of time. From the refrigerant passage I48, the refrigerant then flows through the connecting tube I56 to the refrigerant passages in the U-shaped portion I36. In this U-shaped portion the refrigerant passages include a liquid trap portion I54 and refrigerant passages I52 which extend continuously through the U-shaped portion. As shown, they extend in serpentine fashion from one side wall across the bottom to the other side wall and back again. These passages I52 then connect with the passages I56 provided for cooling the top wall I40. The passages I56 then connect with the suction line I66 which connects to the suction inlet of the motor compressor unit.

The enclosure of the freezing container I26 is completed by the insulated freezing container door I4? hinged at the bottom to the insulating member I62. It is preferably provided with a gasket seal and springs for insuring that the door I 4? is normaly closed and normally seals the interior of the freezing container I28 from the atmosphere in the food compartment I32. As shown in Fig. 6, the member I62 may be made of an outer tray-shaped portion of thermoplastic nwteriali the m: extending; around the edges. thetray -shapedi portion is provided; thermal. insulating: materiak uporr. which the refsigerated platesv 26: is. directly supportedav However, if desired, the member" i621 may bezmade of. a homogeneous material. having thermal insulating properties. 1

operation ofi the: refrigerating; system: is controlled a thermostatic switch connected in series with: the: sealed. motor compressor unit in:

the: showmine. Fig, 1 The thermostatic switch; is controlled. by avolatile: fldid. the captube E12; having; atbulb portion I 'M' clamped ten the side walls portiom [38 0i the freezing; cone tainer: I28. The thermostatic: switch. is'se't. to operate; upon; a defrosting cycle as- Figs.v 12110. 3* sa beforethev motor compressor unit" can starttheouter wallsrot the-freezingcontainer I228 rise toatemperatlmesabover 32 '-'F;;. such; as 34901. 36 11%,. sothe-tithes" will be-defrostedevery cache. Theseout'enwallsmf. theconta'mer. I128 liar-- alsufliciently'low' mass that they will: warm up quickly to defrosting temperature while the inte tier. of. thefreezing container: reason-of the mass of the refrigerated plates: i262 and the: el' merits, in con-tact with wilt-remain at; tempera tunes below f'neezingr Figsc 1. to? 6 thefreezing: container extends suhstantialy all the way across the topof: thef'ood compartment. Inv Figs;- 7' and 8- the freezing; container 2-2 3 occupies lessx than half theupper portion of! the food compartment 232 which is enclosed in the: insulated cabinet-230. In the: freezing; container 228 there is provided a freez evaporating portion. 226 forming a-abottomv and v the right side of the: freezing (romaine-r9228? Ifial'so includesltwotray supporting. portions 22? andiiz'f which may or may notbe provided with.

a-suppl y of'liquidlrefrigerantt The} freezing, evaporating. portion. 22-6 isprovidhd with; refrigerant passages 248 which may connect with thefslipports and 221 if these: tray-supports are to be refrigerated by liquid re? f'ri'ge'rant. Qt'herwi'se' the trays 266': may: receive their refrigeration by conduction through. the I metaLoi the supports 225 and 221 from the freezingevaporating' portibn 226. Beneath the metal tray supporting; portions 225 and 2211 there:- are shown frozen food packages 254. which are supported upon the-bottom portion of the freezing evaporating portion 22 5. The: freezing evaporateportioxr. 226. is isolated: from "the atmosphere im the: food. compartment: 23-2f'by' being" enclosed on outer surf aces? by an insulating incur-'- berZBfi H I V Thetopwand left. side portions of the: ti eezin'g container 228 are formed by the metal container wall portions 231 and 249. These extend into sealing engagement with the insulating member 262 but the freezing evaporating member 226 has its edges stopping short of the metal wall portions 231 and 249 so that the freezing container 226 is thermallyisolated from the wall portions 231 and 240. The wall portionsi ifl and 231 are provided with refrigerant passages 258, the upper end of which connect with the upper end of the refrigerant passages 248 and extend continuously in serpentine fashion across the top wall 240 and the side wall 231 and finally connect with the suction conduit 250. The liquid refrigerant is supplied through the capillary restrictor tube 224 to the lower portion of the refrigerant passage 248 so that the frozen food packages 284 ing: container 228* will; be defrosted: every." cycle The member. 262: has: sufficient insulating proper tiesto keep its outer surface: from collecting. frost: The insulating. member 252 is: provided with: at trough extending along; one-side which discharges into aicompartment 2 11 provided in the tray 215 located beneath the cooling unit 2218,. and"; sup portedgupon the: shelf 213'. The cooling; unit 228 enclosed: at the; rear" by metal wall: 228 at the front by aminsuiaterf. door: 241? which.

' behinged: at theabottorm. as shown. or: at: the side,

if desired, to'c'omplete the sealing,- of the: interior ofithe freezingcontainer" 2 281-, This. will: substanw holly-thermally isolate: the: interior of? the c'dl'fitainer 2d and prevent moisture from migrating; from the food. compartment 2132-? into the interior of the: container 228;

Thusineach of; these forms, Iv have provided; arefrigeraitor hav-mgm cooling unit-in which the outer surfaces defrost. automatically every cycle while theainteri'or is maintained-at freezing; temp peraturesl Since all: the refrigerated surfacesare part) of; a. single cooling. unit; the cost; is relatilvely low; I

. In accordance with the provisions; of." Rule': 7-812 reference ismade to the following prior filed-aap plications: Seriah No. 236 6455: filed Jill-y 13g.- 1951; Serial} No. 223*,550 ,-,fil'ed April 28;, 19511;. SerialdN'oc 193,963, filediNovemberi-d,1 951.:

While th ezforni of embodiment (a: theinvention-i asv herein disclosed: constitutes a preferred; fcrim.

it. is. to be understood that other forms. might! be: adopted; as may come: within the scope of claims which rene What is claimed: is as followst.

combination, an insul ted refrigerators cabinet. a, freezing container having; metal. con-- tainerv wall portions exposed to the: atmosphere: withinv said cabinet said metalbwall. portions bei'n'g. provided with. refrigerant.- passagesaart ex 1 tensive', fiat refrigerated plate withim said new inacontainer: for supportingicevtrays anclEf-noz'em foodj..the edged of. said flat.- plate being spaced: frhmthecontainen wall: portions;: means for; sup plying liquid rlef'rigerant first: to. saidplate and:

4 thence to:the-refrigerantlpassages:of saidrexnosed a metal. container: wall: portions; control'means sponsive to the temperature of said metal container wall portions operating upon a defrosting cycle for controlling said refrigerant supply means, and insulating means between said plate and said exposed metal container wall portions.

2. In combination, an insulated refrigerator cabinet, a freezing container having metal container wall portions exposed to the atmosphere within said cabinet, said metal wall portions be- J ing provided with refrigerant passages, an extensive fiat refrigerated plate within said freezare always assured of an adequate supply of liquid refrigerant.

The refrigerating system is controlled by a ing container for supporting ice trays and frozen food, insulating means substantially coextensive with said plate between said plate and said exposed metal container wall portions for providing a heat transfer barrier between said plate and said wall portions, the remaining interior surfaces of said container wall portions other than those covered by said plate being exposed to the interior of said freezing container, means for supplying liquid refrigerant first to said plate and thence to the refrigerant passages in said exposed metal container wall portions, and control means responsive to the temperature of said metal container wall portions for controlling the supply of liquid refrigerant, said control means being set to operate upon a defrosting cycle to prevent the supply of liquid refrigerant to said refrigerant passages in said wall portions until said wall portions defrost and supply liquid refrigerant to the plate and the'walls to cool both the plate andthe walls below freezing temperatures, said plate having sufli-cient holdover capacity to prevent its defrosting at any time dur- Y ing normal cycling.

3. Incombination, an insulated refrigerator cabinet containing a food'compartment, a rectangular box-shaped freezing" container having metal container wall portions of relatively'low mass exposed to the atmosphere in said food compartment, at least two entire wall portions of said container being provided with refrigerant passages, a tray supporting refrigerant evaporating portion of relative high mass having a substantially fiat refrigerated area located within the freezing container for supporting ice trays and frozen food packages, the edges of said tray supporting portion being spaced from said wall portions, insulating means for insulating said evaporating portion from said metal container wall portions, means for supplying liquid refrigerant first to said evaporating portion and thence to said refrigerant passages in the container wall portions. I

4. In combination, an insulated refrigerator cabinet containing a food compartment, a rectangular box-shaped freezing container having metal container wall portions of relatively low mass exposed to the atmosphere in said 'food' compartment, at least two entire wall portions of said container being provided with refrigerant passages, a tray supporting refrigerant evaporating portion of relatively high mass having a substantially flat refrigerated area located within the freezing container for supporting ice trays and frozen food packages, insulating means for insulating said evaporating portion from said metal container wall portions; means for supplying liquid refrigerant first to said evaporating portion and thence to said refrigerant passages in the container wall portions, said evaporating portion also having refrigerant passages, said refrigerant passages being" unrestricted, a continuously open unrestricted connection connecting said passages in said'wall' portion and said passages in said evaporating portionfand control means operating upon a defrosting cycle responsive to the temperature of a portion of said container wall portions for controlling the supply of refrigerant.

5. In combination, an insulated refrigerator cabinet containing a food compartment, a rectangular box-shaped freezing container having a U-shaped refrigerated metal container wall portion within and exposed to the atmosphere within said food compartment, an extensive fiat refrigerated plate within said freezing container for supporting ice trays and frozen foods, insulating means between said plate and the wall portions of said container, said wall portions having continuously open unrestricted passages, a continuously open unrestricted liquid trap connection connecting said passages and said plate having means for preventing the flow of liquid refrigerant by gravity from said passages to said plate, means for supplying refrigerantfirst to said plate and thence to'said U-shaped refrigerated wall portions.

6. In combination, an insulatedrefrigerator cabinet containing a food compartment, a rectangular box-shaped freezing container having a U-shaped refrigerated metal container wall portion within and exposed to the atmosphere within said food compartment, an extensive flat refrigerated plate within said freezing container for supporting ice trays and frozen foods, insulating means between said plate and the wall portions of said container, said Wall portions having continuously open unrestricted passages,

a continuously open unrestricted liquid trap con nection connecting said passages and said plate having means for preventing the flow of liquid refrigerant by gravity from said passages to said plate, means for supplying refrigerant first to said plate and thence'to said U-shaped refrigerated wall portions, and control means operating upon a defrosting cycle and responsive to the temperature of said U-shaped refrigerated wall portion for controlling the supplyof refrigerant.

, JAMES W. JACOBS.

References Cited in the file' of this patent f UNITED STATES PATENTS 

